Senate primary: Hometown guy Gomez wins

The next U.S. Senator from Massachusetts could be a Cohasset resident.

Cohasset's own Gabriel Gomez won the state Senate primary for the Republican party on Tuesday, April 30. He also won big in his hometown.

David Farrag of the Cohasset Republican Committee said of Gomez's victory, “I think it’s left everyone speechless. It’s certainly exciting for Cohasset and has created a buzz we haven’t seen here in a long time.”

Erin Dale

The next U.S. Senator from Massachusetts could be a Cohasset resident.

Cohasset's own Gabriel Gomez won the state Senate primary for the Republican party on Tuesday, April 30. He also won big in his hometown.

Gomez, a Boston businessman and former Navy SEAL, won 803 of 1,000 votes cast for Republican candidates. Gomez faced off against Michael Sullivan and Daniel Winslow. Sullivan won 157 votes while 39 votes were cast for Winslow.

Edward Markey was the Democratic choice for the state and Cohasset. Markey carried 440 votes in Cohasset while opponent Stephen Lynch won 325 votes.

Of the 5,839 eligible voters in Cohasset, 1,773 (30 percent) of voters turned out to cast their ballots Tuesday. Over 56 percent of registered Republicans voted while around 43 percent of Democrats went to the polls.

Gomez, 47, and Markey, 66, will face off in the June 25 special election to decide who will replace former long-time Massachusetts US Senator John Kerry (D), who resigned to become Secretary of State.

Ready for race

In his acceptance speech Tuesday night at the Red Lion Inn, Gomez, born in Los Angeles to Colombian immigrants, emphasized how he worked hard to achieve the American dream, his bipartisan stance, and his status as a Washington outsider with no elected experience.

“If you want someone who refuses to reach across the aisle…If you want a slick-talking politician, I’m not your guy,” said Gomez. “I’m an independent voice and a new kind of Republican.”

Gomez said that he is running to change the status quo in Washington and ensure that others also have the chance to achieve the American dream, too.

“I’m concerned that if we stay on the same path right now, my kids and your kids may not have the same chance I had,” he said. “Each generation should pass off a better country than when they started.”

Gomez noted that back in 1976, when he was playing Little League baseball, his opponent, Markey, was elected to Congress.

“Albert Einstein said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting the same result,” said Gomez. “Congress is full of politicians… Washington has had enough. Send the same person down there, you’re going to get the same result.”

In conclusion, the candidate from Cohasset said that he will bring the following mentality to the Senate position, if elected: “I will approach the job with a military man’s discipline, father’s sensitivity, and a business man’s experience.”

Cohasset abuzz

The town has been buzzing since Tuesday night, when a celebratory party for Gomez was held at the Red Lion Inn.

Ray Kasperowicz, chair of the Cohasset Republican Committee, said Wednesday that he was surprised by Gomez’s victory.

“I would have never predicted that this was even possible a few months ago, but he pulled it off,” Kasperowicz said of Gomez. “It’s great.”

Kasperowicz that he thinks Gomez is the first Cohasset resident in town history to win a state-wide primary. He also thinks that Gomez has an “excellent shot” at winning the seat.

“He’s got a good resume and conducted a very successful campaign to beat two seasoned veterans,” said Kasperowicz. “I think it’ll be interesting to see what kind of voters he pulls out… He may attract voters who are just looking for somebody different so he fits that bill, and he’s got a young, attractive family, and that’s all good.”

The Republican committee chair also said that his committee has Gomez’s back. “We’re in his corner and are there to help out.”

David Farrag of the town Republican committee was also shocked by, but happy with, Gomez’s win, and what it could mean for Cohasset.

“It’s surreal that it’s happening, but it is,” said Farrag. “I think it’s left everyone speechless. It’s certainly exciting for Cohasset and has created a buzz we haven’t seen here in a long time.”

As exciting as it’s been watching Gomez ascend the political ladder from Boston businessman to Senate candidate to GOP winner of the primary, Farrag predicted that things are about to get crazier. And for Gomez, the pressure is on.

“It’s going to be a wild ride,” Farrag said. “The primary and general elections are totally different. The lights are going to get hotter, there’s going to be national attention, [the race] is going to be one on one… All of that attention funnels to the two [opponents], so that’s going to be interesting to see.”

“He’s got some great staff and he’s run a professional campaign,” Farrag said. “What’s missing in the [election] story is that he won it just like a Navy pilot would, in the air and on the air, having the commercials go from one end of the state to the other, telling biographically who he was.”

Acting Town Manager Michael Milanoski, a Gomez supporter, said that he took Tuesday as a vacation day.

“I’m a strong supporter of Gabriel Gomez,” Milanoski said. “He’s got a lot of good ideas we need to listen to. Gabe has four kids in the community, he’s been a baseball coach for many years, and many people know and respect him. He’s earned everything he’s done in life and is a good role model for many people.”

Milanoski also commented on the buzz around Gomez’s victory creates. “I think it’ll bring a lot of positive attention to Cohasset,” he said.